Safety is a serious concern on any road throughout the country, including Atlanta roadways. When a driver fails to exercise reasonable care when changing lanes, turning, or when performing even the simplest maneuver, a car accident may occur.

At about 9:30 a.m. on January 16, a vehicle pileup that resulted in injuries to 5 people occurred on eastbound I-20 near the Lowery Boulevard exit west of downtown. The car wreck caused the shutdown of all eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 for almost an hour.

The Georgia State patrol reported that the multi-vehicle accident started when the driver of a 2005 Pontiac G6 attempted to change lanes and struck the rear of a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero. After the impact, the Montero flipped off the ground and struck a 200 Nissan Pathfinder in the left lane.

The accident caused injuries to the drivers of the three vehicles and to two passengers riding the Montero. The injured individuals were all taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Lane Change Accidents

Lane change crashes happen when a vehicle attempts to switch lanes and hits or is hit by another vehicle traveling in the same direction. This type of wreck is common on multi-lane roadways with high volume of traffic, and when a driver attempts to change lanes without indicating or signaling that they are about to leave their existing lane to get into another lane.

Reports said authorities are still investigating the cause of the recent pile-up on Interstate 20 and Lowery Boulevard. There are various reasons why drivers suddenly decide to make a quick lane change maneuver, including emergency medical problems, rushing due to an emergency situation, and trying to quickly avoid road debris, potholes, animals, or an oil spill on the road, which often results in losing control of their vehicle.

However, most lane change crashes occur when drivers attempt to switch lanes in a dangerous, negligent manner. Whether negligence takes the form of distracted driving, reckless driving, drunk driving, failing to follow traffic rules, it can cause serious or fatal injuries. In a dangerous lane change wreck, injured victims can hold negligent drivers liable for their injuries and losses.

Injuries in a car accident can have rippling effects on the lives of the victims who physically struggle from their injuries, and whose employment or source of income is compromised due to their crippling injuries.

People injured in a car wreck in Atlanta have the option to file a legal action against the negligent driver who caused the accident. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, injured victims or their family may file a legal course of action to obtain justice and compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other injury-related losses.